The above list of places includes incorporated cities and towns, unincorporated towns and communities, and place names that may have been used in family histories. Some have well-organized records and even have web sites. Some are simply social communities with no official records, but which may be referenced in small-town newspapers. The list is provided to help researchers identify localities within the county. As records or histories of these localities are identified, a page will be added for each of these place names.

Resources

The types of records that follow are used for genealogy and family history. Most tell what you may learn and how to locate the records. Links to Internet sites usually go directly to Lewis County, Idaho Genealogy entries with names, images, or information.

Many of the older court, land, naturalization, probate, pension, and vital records for Lewis County have been microfilmed and are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and through their family history centers. They are also available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise. Details of the county records in these respective institutions can be obtained from their online catalogs or listings. Original records which have been microfilmed and more recent records are in the county courthouse in Nezperce[5].

Census

The 1890 federal census for Idaho was destroyed. However, the Idaho State Historical Society Public Archives and Research Library is creating a list of 1890 Idaho residents by indexing a variety of records, 1885-1894. This reconstructed list will substitute for the destroyed 1890 federal census.

1911--Lewis County was created 3 March 1911 from Nez Perce County. County seat: Nezperce.

County Commissioners' Records

The minute books of the County Commissioners contain interesting tidbits of history about the county as well as the names of individuals appealing to the County Commissioners for action on issues of concern to them. Minutes of those meetings were recorded from the formation of the county, for most counties. Some counties now post the minutes of current meetings online.

Most of these records have been preserved in the county courthouses of the State of Idaho. Few have been microfilmed. Contact the county clerk for information about years covered and availability.

Court Records

Some of the early court records of Lewis County, Idaho have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho. The records filmed include civil suits, divorce papers, judgment dockets, etc. Copies of these microfilmed court records are also available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah or at any of the Library's Family History Centers. Additional court records and more recent records are housed at the Lewis County courthouse in Nez perce, and can be accessed by making a visit there.

Some of the records of the courts of Lewis County that have been microfilmed include:

Court records, 1911-1932

Power of attorney, 1883-1964; index, 1890-1986

Judgment Books

Judgment record, 1895-1946; index, 1895-1986

Directories

The Idaho State Archives has a collection of city, county, state and regional directories.

History

Land and Property

Land and Property records are generally recorded in the county courthouse of the county in which the transaction took place. For original records of Lewis County, Idaho, one may visit the courthouse in Nez Perce, Idaho.

The Idaho State Archives has microfilmed many county records of Lewis County and these can be accessed by visiting the Archives in Boise, Idaho.

Some Land and propertyrecords of Lewis County have been microfilmed by the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and can be read in the Library in Salt Lake City or in any of its Family History Centers.

Maps

Military

World War I draft registration cards, 1917-1918, for Lewis County have been microfilmed. Copies of these records are available at the Family History Library (their microfilm number 1452218) and are also available online at Ancestry.com, for a subscription fee. The original cards are maintained in the Southeast Regional Archives of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in East Point, Georgia and have been microfilmed by the National Archives as their Microcopy M1509.

Miscellaneous Series

Often overlooked by the genealogist, this group of volumes may contain affidavits for citizenship, final disposition of estates, divorce decrees, and many other types of valuable documents. The content varies from county to county, year to year and from clerk to clerk. When the estate case files, civil or criminal files are not available or have been destroyed, you may find key documents recorded here. Most counties will have an index to this series and it is a must search if the information you are seeking is not found elsewhere.

Both the Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho, and the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah have copies of the miscellaneous record of Lewis County. The originals are held in the Lewis County courthouse in Nez Perce, Idaho and can be accessed by visiting there. Copies in the Idaho State Archives are available for viewing in Boise. Those held by the Family History Library can be viewed either at the Library in Salt Lake City or at any of its Family History Centers.

Probate

Probate records are generally housed at the county courthouse in the county where the transaction took place, so existing Probate records of Lewis County should be available in Nez Perce by visiting there.

Some older Probate records of Lewis County have been microfilmed by the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah and can be viewed at the Library in Salt Lake City or in any of its Family History Centers.

The Idaho State Archives has also microfilmed records from Lewis County which can be accessed at the Archives in Boise, Idaho.

Taxation

Any existing tax assessment rolls for Lewis County should be in the courthouse in Nezperce and would need to be accessed by visiting there.

Vital Records

Birth

Birth records, 1911 to present, for individuals born in Lewis County are included in and recorded at the state level. These records are restricted for a period of one hundred years from the time of the individual's birth but can be obtained by following the guidelines as issued by the State of Idaho. See the Vital Records section under the subject Idaho for more details.

Deaths

Deaths occurring in Lewis County after 1911 are included in the state-wide registration program. These records are restricted for a period of fifty years from the time of the individual's death but can be obtained by following the guidelines as issued by the State of Idaho. See the Vital Records section under Idaho for details.

Copies of death certificates from 1911-1954 are on microfilm and can be used at the Idaho State Archives, the Family History Library, BYU-Idaho University Library in Rexburg and several other locations.

A state-wide index to Idaho Deaths, 1911-1956 is available online. Efforts to expand this index to 1960 are underway. Another version is the US Genweb Idaho Death Index 1911-1956.

The Ilo-Vollmer Historical Society has 26 volumes of obituary records for Lewis County. This Society can be reached at PO Box 61, Craigmont, ID 83523.

Societies and Libraries

Many public libraries provide internet access to sites of value to the family historian. Some have special collections of historical and cultural interest, as well. The following libraries may have some resources of value, but use of some or all of them may require a visit to the library.

Family History Centers

Family history centers provide one-on-one assistance and free access to premium genealogical websites. In addition, many centers have free how-to genealogy classes. See family history center for more information. Search the online FHC directory for a nearby family history center.